CARLISLE - Thursday 23rd October

Going - Heavy

With the hurdle course remaining out of action Carlisle presented another chase only card. The next scheduled meeting will be the same. Once again the second fence out in the country was omitted.

Rain fell and made the going very testing. A few poor runs can probably be ignored, but the effort here may have taken its toll on a few.

2.10 2m 0-95 Handicap Chase

A very ordinary contest to start the afternoon.

LERIDA’s previous form contained a couple of competitive performances, but also a lot of dross. He was described by a Racing Forum correspondent who rode him for a while as a “so-and-so”, so it’s debatable whether he’ll repeat this form next time. That being said he did the job well enough here, taking up the running 6 out and, despite the rider dropping his whip, kept on well.
ROYAL GLEN and BOG OAK confirmed their relative form from the last Carlisle meeting ROYAL GLEN was the last to give way not matching the winner on the flat. A return to Hexham may help since 4 out of 5 of his wins have come there.
BOG OAK built on the glimmer of promise shown last time and put in his best performance for a while to finish a staying on third.
ITALIANO ran well for a long way. This was a decent effort after a lay-off, and he was missing for two years before that. Given those circumstances this was as promising a run as any in this field. What ability he has clearly remains so there’s hope of a victory.
NATIVE COLL ran better than previous effort here, but is still short of his best.
TOULOUSE EXPRESS runs often but is not a prolific winner. He regressed from his previous effort here and doesn’t seem a betting proposition.
HOLLOWS MILL once again showed little.
NICOZETTO has form over longer distances. His early jumping was a bit sketchy but he did settle down and was in with a chance when hitting three out. He went backwards after that but may well be capable of better if he gets his jumping together, and if moved up in trip.
WHATCANYASAY ran no sort of race. His best form is on good and fast ground at Sedgefield, so this form can be put aside.
WATCH THE WIND was always out the back.

2.40 2m (Class 3) Novices’ Chase

This looked a decent novice event, with many hurdles winners and Astarador’s novice win here to measure against.

I got the impression last season that it wouldn’t be long before CROCODILES ROCK moved on to chasing and this evidence suggests he’s a useful prospect. He looked a bit tired, so may benefit from a break now, but considering he’s likely to be better over further this was a decent effort. I’d expect a step up in trip and improvement to go with it.
ASTARADOR won here well enough last time, allowing for the fact that he was given a start, and lost nothing in defeat to a useful opponent. He’s not been stopping at the end of either chase here and should benefit from a step up in trip.
RAYSROCK was held by the first two, but is another interesting prospect that is worth noting on the northern circuit. He found the first two had too much for him from 2 out, but he’ll come on for the race and looks a ready made winner.
LEASE LEND made a satisfactory debut, will likely come on for this, and is another I would expect to benefit from a step up in trip.
THE SHY MAN found this tough at the minimum trip. His Hexham run suggested he was crying out for a step up in trip and he looks like one who will need a trip around three miles to be seen at his best. Keep this one in mind.
TORKINKING was way below the level of his hurdle form and well held on his second effort at chasing. Placement may be a problem, and much may depend on what chasing handicap mark he’s given. On evidence to date he would struggle if placed near his current hurdle mark of 133 and since he’s 9 years old time is not on his side.
CASH MAN is probably capable of winning a chase at his level but found this way too tough.
SMART STREET has mainly disappointed since going chasing. A change of stables doesn’t seem to have improved things and a watching brief is advised.
The Johnson duo of PENDLE FOREST (unseated rider 4 out when remote) and UNCLE MICHAEL are wasting their time and energy in this company.

3.15 2m 5f 0-100 Handicap Chase

The four handicaps on the card were won by those at or near bottom weight, and TEENANDO took advantage of bottom weight minus Tjade Collier’s 3lb allowance here. This was nice progression from his Uttoxeter second. He pulled hard, but had plenty left at the business end and may well progress further even allowing for a rise in the weights.
SAMMY SPIDERMAN ran respectably in second without seriously threatening the winner. The dam stayed 3 miles is related to jumping winners so there would seem every chance he’ll progress possibly over a longer distance.
ROSIE ALL OVER jumped better than at Hexham, but found things tough up the straight. She is at least going the right way and has the look of a chaser.
THAI VANGO raced prominently, but found things tough from 3 out. This was a respectable debut over fences.
OH PICKLES at least got round this time, but may need more time.
STRAVAIGIN has proved time and again that she struggles in these conditions and it was no surprise that she pulled up. Her best chances will probably come at Musselburgh where the ground is seldom testing.
GLACIAL RAMBLER and COLDWELLS found it too tough from a mile out and pulled up.
CONTENDO and KARLANI didn’t show and pulled up.

3.45 3m ½ f 0-130 Handicap Chase

Not a bad event for midweek at Carlisle.

THE GANGERMAN had run some decent races over fences last season but it took until this race to lose the maiden tag. He’s not blessed with lightning speed, but then we are talking staying chaser and he stayed on determinedly up the hill for victory. His consistency can’t be faulted and I’d keep him in mind for tough tests this winter.
ROYAL MACKINTOSH, as intimated previously, benefited from the previous outing and got competitive here. He’s lightly raced and may well be on a decent mark for similar events.
BALLYVOGE made most of the running before being overtaken at the last. After a lay-off there was nothing wrong with this run.
LUCKY NELLERIE generally gets competitive in staying chases in these parts. On seasonal debut he ran out of steam over the last two.
HUKA LODGE weakened out of contention with a mile to race. He does win in his turn but tends to mix them in amongst some naff performances. Anyone looking for a winner at a long price could do worse than keep him in the notebook.
SILVER SEDGE probably found the combination of heavy ground and the stiff track asking too much.
DOC ROW is not showing encouraging form.
LAERTES won the Highland National in April at Perth with the winner back in third, and probably needs further than this. He fell away from 3 out.
I really ought to follow FIRTH OF FORTH, since I can see both the Forth bridges from home. However, I wouldn’t be in danger of backing a winner on current efforts. He did at least get round for the first time in five, but showed only a glimmer of signs of a revival.

4.15 3m ½ f (Class 3) Novices’ Chase

Not much strength in depth for the prize money.

TOT O’WHISKEY built on the promise of his second over 2m 4f last time. He’s going the right way and should score again.
HOCKENHEIM had been let down by his jumping on three previous chase outings. However this time he jumped well in the lead. He tired and blundered at the last, but loses nothing in defeat and looks a ready made winner of a similar event now his jumping is in order.
HARRY WOOD ran respectably in third. The McCain stable normally know what to do with their chasers and should place him to advantage.
MISTANOORA faded to fourth and recent evidence suggests he’s not as good a chaser as he was over hurdles.
GRITTI PALACE found these too good for him. He might be interesting if aimed at a novice handicap.
MR BARNACLE went well to three out before fading. He should be capable of better in time.
SACRED MOUNTAIN found the step up from maiden hunter company a tough one. He pulled up very early. However, it’s significant that he has twice pulled up on seasonal debut in points, so may produce better next time.
MOYNE PLEASURE was out of his depth on his second outing over fences.

4.50 3m ½ f 0-95 Handicap Chase

A hard slog in churned up conditions for a bunch of slow-coaches.

TOY GUN had only successfully cleared one fence in his last two chasing efforts. He did at least prove he’s not bad if he can negotiate the obstacles, a hurdling fourth at Hexham having offered a degree of encouragement. He did this well enough and, while he’s still not reliable betting material, he at least showed he is competitive in these lowly staying events.
GARLETON ran a couple of decent races in the spring and ran to the form again here. He was miles clear of the other two finishers and there must be a bit of value in the form. Providing his trainer aims low there’s a small chase in him.
MR TWINS reverted to plodding mode after his exertions over a shorter distance. The towel went in as the runners approached the final climb.
PANTHERS RUN has given a glimmer of hope at times, but there was nothing optimistic as he struggled into a distant last of four finishers.
Of the others, only ALTO STRATUS offers much encouragement since he was making a forward move when exiting at the ninth. It was a first non-completion, so it might be worth forgiving this effort.
FISHERMAN JACK may well have paid for a tough recent race at Hexham and pulled up.
PRESENTING ALF didn’t build on a fair third at Hexham and looks very moderate.
EXIT TO SAUMUR has given no encouragement in five efforts to date.
SANDS RISING jumped untidily, soon losing touch and pulling up. The stable’s runners at the meeting were either outclassed or ran poorly.